BURNLEY striker Ashley Barnes is to see a specialist to determine the extent of his troublesome groin injury.

The 30-year-old, who has six goals this season, was not involved in the third round FA Cup win over Peterborough last weekend and is expected to miss the trip to Chelsea when the Clarets return to Premier League action on Saturday.

The issue has plagued him in recent weeks with boss Sean Dyche saying it was now a matter of getting to the bottom of it.

"We will almost definitely be missing Barnsey," he said ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.

"He is seeing a specialist. He has been getting on with things and trying to get through a period with an over-use injury, so that will get checked out.

 "I don't know the exact details which is why he will see someone about it to try and find out what it has led to.

"He is a very physical player who puts a lot into his games and his training and he has been soldiering on with it and it was really affecting him in the last few games.

"We had to have a chat with him and say 'look you have put a lot in for us to try and carry on but we have to get to the bottom of it so that is more the situation'."

With Barnes set to be out, Jay Rodriguez had been expected to keep his place after scoring twice against League One Posh last time out but along with Phil Bardsley, he has been unwell since Monday.

  "I’d expected them to be through it by now so it’s obviously a deeper thing than just a bug," Dyche said at Thursday's pre-match press conference.

"They’re not in today, so we’ll see how they come through that, and if they’re available tomorrow.

"The doctor is assessing them today. It’s the usual stuff – high temperature and the rest of it.

"We keep getting nearly back, and then get another knock.  That’s just the way it is."

Johann Berg Gudmundsson is out of the game at Chelsea after lasting just 45 minutes of the FA Cup victory but having only just returned to action his hamstring injury is not too serious meaning he should be back sooner rather than later.

"He won’t make it, but the good news is it’s not as serious as it could have been," said Clarets boss Dyche.

"It is a hamstring injury, but it is settling down already, and should do quickly."

Chris Wood is likely to lead the line in West London having been replaced in the second half against Posh as a precaution.

Ben Gibson, the subject of plenty of transfer talk already this month, is back in training after a groin issue.

Dyche revealed winger Dwight McNeil had also been nursing a knock but was training as normal ahead of the game.